The Traveler
Senior Member
Just back from a trip to the Caribbean. I have a local friend who took me to an area with significant pirate/British/Spanish activity. It is private land and we have permission. I would never risk going to jail in a 3rd world country. Yes, I was still scared at the airport with relics in my checked luggage.
Needless to say I had a blast, but I am way out of my league with these relics. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I don't see much older than 1900. Can you help me with a few questions?
#1. The part I think may be from a musket was found a foot from 3 musket balls. It is made of brass and is broke on both ends. The screw hole makes it look like it could be the cock of a flintlock, but I find no images of one similar to this. Any guesses? Do the markings mean anything to you?
#2. The key plate is made of brass and is engraved with a design that was definitely done by hand given how rudimentary it is. Any idea on how to date it?
#3. I was surprised at how many buckles and pieces of buckle we found. Makes me think the site was occupied for a while.
#4. Bayonet. Pretty far gone.
#5. I will eventually clean the whatsits. The top two are iron. the bottom one is brass. I am thinking it might have been the spout to a canteen, but I don't find pictures of ones with notches like this one. Ideas?
#6. Saving the best for last. A hand guard from a sword. Made of brass, no markings on either side. Is there any way of dating this? Or perhaps determining the country of origin? Do you think that is part of the sword? It was found a few feet away, but it appears to be just iron like a barrel strap or something. What would a sword look like after being in the ground for a few hundred years?
Needless to say I had a blast, but I am way out of my league with these relics. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I don't see much older than 1900. Can you help me with a few questions?
#1. The part I think may be from a musket was found a foot from 3 musket balls. It is made of brass and is broke on both ends. The screw hole makes it look like it could be the cock of a flintlock, but I find no images of one similar to this. Any guesses? Do the markings mean anything to you?
#2. The key plate is made of brass and is engraved with a design that was definitely done by hand given how rudimentary it is. Any idea on how to date it?
#3. I was surprised at how many buckles and pieces of buckle we found. Makes me think the site was occupied for a while.
#4. Bayonet. Pretty far gone.
#5. I will eventually clean the whatsits. The top two are iron. the bottom one is brass. I am thinking it might have been the spout to a canteen, but I don't find pictures of ones with notches like this one. Ideas?
#6. Saving the best for last. A hand guard from a sword. Made of brass, no markings on either side. Is there any way of dating this? Or perhaps determining the country of origin? Do you think that is part of the sword? It was found a few feet away, but it appears to be just iron like a barrel strap or something. What would a sword look like after being in the ground for a few hundred years?
